By Gigi Tseng
Pictures courtesy of Tiffany & Co.
From antiquity, humanity has been captivated by the mysterious world hidden beneath the ocean’s glossy, mirror-like surface. It is a realm of both peril and breathtaking beauty—where awe and fear coexist. Only the bold dare to descend and uncover the secrets below.
On April 25, Tiffany & Co. offered a rare glimpse into this mystical world with Sea of Wonder—the latest chapter in its celebrated Blue Book Collection. Like treasures emerging from the ocean’s depths, each piece is inspired by the fantastical marine visions of Jean Schlumberger, the legendary designer who partnered with Tiffany from 1956 until his retirement in the late 1970s.
Renowned as one of 20th century’s most gifted artists—and one of only four jewelers ever permitted to sign their work for Tiffany & Co.—Schlumberger was beloved for his colorful and whimsical interpretations of nature. He was particularly fascinated by the sea and the mystical creatures that inhabit its depths.
Blue Book 2025: Sea of Wonder, designed by Nathalie Verdeille, Chief Artistic Officer of Jewelry and High Jewelry, embarks on a nautical journey to reimagine Schlumberger’s love for the ocean’s allure, movement, and mystery through a modern lens.
The chapters—Ocean Flora, Seahorse, Sea Turtle, Starfish, Urchin, and Wave—capture the ethereal dance of light beneath the waves and the shimmering bioluminescence of sea life. It is a homage to the marine realm’s rich biodiversity and the ever-changing rhythm of its tides.
“… these extraordinary pieces also tell a broader narrative of the House’s love of pushing boundaries, our relentless pursuit of that which has never been done before, and the spirit of extraordinary savoir faire that has defined Tiffany & Co. since 1837,” Verdeille said in the latest official press release.
A modern reinterpretation of Jean Schlumberger’s iconic 1968 brooch, Verdeille’s seahorse showcases fluted moonstones and an arrangement of colored gemstones, including zircons and sapphires. Long associated with the sea god Poseidon and tasked to draw his chariot, the seahorse evokes a sense of myth and majesty. This mystical grace is revealed through the rich texture and contrast of the vibrant stones, infusing the design with both elegance and visual depth.
Featuring intricate diamond patterns and delicate gold accents, each sea turtle is meticulously engraved by Tiffany artisans to reflect the geometric beauty of its natural shell. These voyagers’ perilous journey from land to sea is echoed in the piece’s hidden mechanism, which transforms the pendant into a brooch—a poetic tribute to the sea turtle’s resilience and unwavering perseverance in the face of adversity.
This whimsical chapter is expertly crafted with unique cutting techniques, immortalizing the dynamic movement of a starfish dancing across the ocean floor. With every shift in angle, the design reveals a new perspective of the starfish in motion, Each piece is set with rubies from Mozambique, accented by 18k yellow gold, rose-cut diamonds, and pavé diamonds.
Inspired by the radiating spines of the sea urchin, Tiffany artisans employed Paillonné enameling—a 19th-century technique revived by Jean Schlumberger—to create a delicate, thorn-like texture on the necklace, beautifully encapsulating the essence of the sea. Revered in many cultures, the sea urchin symbolizes good luck, fertility, and prosperity.
A tribute to Schlumberger’s iconic Leaves Necklace, this breathtaking necklace celebrates the wild, untamed beauty of crashing waves through its sculptural design. The diamonds are complemented by over 17 total carats of blue cuprian elbaite tourmalines, adding a brilliant shimmer to this glorious piece.
